Page 14 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

"The prison?"

"Which prison?"

What is this guys' deal? "Bedlam Penitentiary?"

A look of pity settles over his features. "You, my naive little bird, aren't in Bedlam."

"Where in the gods name am I?"

A grin crosses his face. "That'll cost you."

I let out a frustrated shriek. "I don't have anything to bargain with!"

His eyes flash dangerously. "Oh, but you do," he purrs, rolling back until he's seated on the ground, knees supporting his forearms. "I'll tell you what. You want to know where Wilder is?"

"Of course!"

"And you want to know where you are?"

"We've established that already."

"I'll tell you both in exchange for your virginity."

My eyes widen. "You're joking," I barely manage to choke out. "I'm not bargaining what's between my thighs."

"No? How about what's between mine?" He grins, fluffing his wings and dropping his knees so he's bared to me.

I shutter my eyes and turn my head quickly. I've seen plenty of naked people—mostly during battle, or when one of my phoenix sisters regenerate. But I've never seen an erect male before.

"That's quite enough," I snap. "You can keep whatever you have between your legs. You'll tell me what I want to know, and no more."

He maneuvers himself so he's lying on his side, one knee up, still showing off all his goods. "Do they not negotiate where you're from?"

"Do they not wear clothes where you're from?"

"They do. I just find I look better without them; wouldn't you agree?"

I don't deign to give him a response to that. "Here's what I'm willing to give you in exchange for information about where Wilder is and where I am. A kiss on the hand is all you'll get."

He huffs a laugh. "You're going to have to do better than that, dodo."

"Did you just call me a dodo?"

"Peculiar creatures. I'd visited the Earth realm eons ago and found them rather delicious."

My mouth hangs open. "Those are extinct."

"Yes, yes. I was quite sad when I'd ran out."

"Is that what you plan to do with me?"

He favors me a hooded gaze. "Eat you? Why, you offering?" He runs a claw up the seam of my leg. "Savor the finest this plump little morsel has to offer?" He cups me between my thighs. "Let me sample you?"

I squirm out of his grasp. "No!" I shout at him.

He assumes a softer demeanor and pulls back from me. "Alright, I won't touch you there ever again. Only when I've got you on your knees, begging for it."

I frown at him.

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